A little About Dr. Neal Bernard's Program

Someone wanted to know a bit about the diet I follow that let me get off of insulin. Dr. Neal Bernard's Program for Reversing Diabetes is about reducing insulin resistance. He posits that it is animal fats and proteins that gum up the "locks" that receive insulin allowing glucose to enter the muscle where it can be used rather than becoming overly concentrated in the blood, therefore his diet is 100% vegan. Before you moan too loudly, however, consider this, when I ate meat, milk products and eggs, I was ALWAYS HUNGRY! And I frequently craved unhealthy foods. Now I eat whenever I want and I couldn't care less if anyone around me is eating sugary stuff -- because I no long have any appetite for that junk. There are additional factors in choosing foods on his program, most notably acceptable food choices are those that are low on the glycemic index. I was initially afraid to try this because I would actually be increasing my carbohydrate usage. I had tried low-glycemic index carbs before, however, along with meat, eggs, and dairy, and that was a blood sugar disaster. But vegan low glycemic eating is no problem. I can now eat whole grains and beans as well as fruits, nuts and seeds, soy and almond milks and of course vegetables! While I don't recall Dr. Bernard mentioning it, I would also recommend Beanzyme until your system develops its ability to digest these foods on its own.

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Yes, I only tried this because I was desperate, but it didn't take me long to realize that this was the right choice for me and I cannot imagine ever returning to my former eating habits.

I began by following the ADA diet but replacing the animal products such as meat with beans (try adding onions, peppers, tomatoes instead of lots of salt and oil for flavor), the milk with plant based milk, etc. I do not eat refined, processed, or white flour or sugar. I try to incorporate at least one fresh fruit or vegetable at each meal. I use a little unheated...

I began by following the ADA diet but replacing the animal products such as meat with beans (try adding onions, peppers, tomatoes instead of lots of salt and oil for flavor), the milk with plant based milk, etc. I do not eat refined, processed, or white flour or sugar. I try to incorporate at least one fresh fruit or vegetable at each meal. I use a little unheated olive oil on salads, make my own healthier condiments. The commercial ones have sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. You are better off to get your grains in other ways than in flour. Oatmeal is good but the whole cooked grain is even better. I eat oatmeal. Think fiber. Fiber fights diabetes as it slows the metabolism of carbohydrates. Animal products don't supply the fiber your body needs. Do not use the other liquid oils, shortening, commercial butters. They are not safe. Get your oil as it is in the food. Get your oils in nuts, avocados, corn (not the corn oil). The best way is to decrease your dependence on animal products gradually. Avoid the ALL or nothing mentality. Remember that EXERCISE before breakfast and after each meal is the BEST strategy against diabetes. Exercise immediately after meals causes the sugar in the blood to go into the cells where it belongs. It is your health and you will have to do what works for you. I found that after following this diet for a while my lab tests have gone from 6.7 to 5.7 and my meter tests are consistently in the normal range. I struggled with the ADA diet and was hungry and finally couldn't help cheating. I am no longer hungry and don't have to be strict with the diet. I can now eat a normal meal without a sugar spike but now I usually prefer to skip an evening meal than to regress to my previous eating habits.

I think Dr Bernard has a great approach but I have run into a road block. I have been on the program for 5 months and am very diciplined about it. Although I have lost about 10 pounds ( which I am pleased about) I find that I can not get the calories or the protein that I belive I need. Breakfast is about 250 caleries based on cooked outmeal and berries and...

I think Dr Bernard has a great approach but I have run into a road block. I have been on the program for 5 months and am very diciplined about it. Although I have lost about 10 pounds ( which I am pleased about) I find that I can not get the calories or the protein that I belive I need. Breakfast is about 250 caleries based on cooked outmeal and berries and soy milk-- Lunch is a bowl of soup which is about 90 caleries and even a veg burito only takes it to 300 and dinner is about 500 caleriess such as stir fry. That is jsut over 1000 caleries.

Being at 200 lbs and 6-1" I am now told by health professionals I an not eating enough OR getting enough protein. I was insulin resistant and have now dropped back to above average on my blood sugar and within tolerance. But To protect from returning to this catergory --now what?

I was found to have a FBS of 345, A1c at 11.9 and Triglycerides of 920, in an effort to do research on how to change this, I found the book at the library and immediately began the program and threw out all the animal products in my kitchen went to the store. I went back to get my blood work and see the doctor at six weeks, my FBS was 130, A1c 9.0 and...

I was found to have a FBS of 345, A1c at 11.9 and Triglycerides of 920, in an effort to do research on how to change this, I found the book at the library and immediately began the program and threw out all the animal products in my kitchen went to the store. I went back to get my blood work and see the doctor at six weeks, my FBS was 130, A1c 9.0 and Triglycerides 175. Needless to say my doctor was very suprised and was taken off on of my diabetes medications, and I give it all to Dr. Bernard and his program. I will continue to do stay on this program because I know it is only going to get better. Thank you Dr. Bernard for sharing this information with the public and making me better in my fight with this disease. l

A FBS of 130 is still diabetic and an A1c of 9 is terrible. Yes it is an improvement from where you were but you will still suffer diabetic complications with those numbers. If you follow Dr. Richard Bernsteins approach in "The Diabetes Soluton" you can obtain a normal fasting blood sugar of 83 and an A1c of 4.5 and avoid diabetic complications. Dr Bernards...

A FBS of 130 is still diabetic and an A1c of 9 is terrible. Yes it is an improvement from where you were but you will still suffer diabetic complications with those numbers. If you follow Dr. Richard Bernsteins approach in "The Diabetes Soluton" you can obtain a normal fasting blood sugar of 83 and an A1c of 4.5 and avoid diabetic complications. Dr Bernards diet does not acheive results that are good enough to be considered sucsessful for a diabetic.

A FBS of 130 is still diabetic and an A1c of 9 is terrible. Yes it is an improvement from where you were but you will still suffer diabetic complications with those numbers. If you follow Dr. Richard Bernsteins approach in "The Diabetes Soluton" you can obtain a normal fasting blood sugar of 83 and an A1c of 4.5 and avoid diabetic complications. Dr Bernards...

A FBS of 130 is still diabetic and an A1c of 9 is terrible. Yes it is an improvement from where you were but you will still suffer diabetic complications with those numbers. If you follow Dr. Richard Bernsteins approach in "The Diabetes Soluton" you can obtain a normal fasting blood sugar of 83 and an A1c of 4.5 and avoid diabetic complications. Dr Bernards diet does not acheive results that are good enough to be considered sucsessful for a diabetic.